Mixing with a sinner or an innovator:
Which is worse?
Ibn Taymiyyah and Sa’eed Ibn Jubayr
Sa’eed Ibn Jubayr (rahimahullaah) said:
“That my son should accompany a sinful highway robber who is a Sunnee is more beloved to me than him taking as his companion a worshipping innovator.”
Mentioned by Ibn Battah in “Al-Ibaanatus-Sughraa”, no. 132.
Sufyaan ath-Thawree (died 161H) explained the reason for this as follows:
“Innovations are more beloved to Iblees than sins, for indeed sins are repented from whilst innovations are not repented from.”
Reported by ‘Alee Ibn Ja’d in his “Musnad” 1809; Al-Laalikaa’ee in “Sharhu Usool I’tiqaad Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah” 1885; Abu Nu’aym in “Al-Hilyah” 7/26